ROJO’S HOPE OVER KNEE INJURY RETURN
MARCOS Rojo has given United supporters an upbeat update on his recovery from a knee injury.
Rojo could struggle to play again this year after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the April Europa League win over Anderlecht but travelled to the US for the club’s pre-season tour.
The Argentinian and fellow long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Ashley Young were due to return from the States halfway through CITY are one of three clubs still in the hunt for Monaco’s teen sensation Kylian Mbappe.
That is the view of Paris Saint-Germain football director Luis Fernandez, who names the Blues, along with his own club and Real Madrid, as being the teams “in the head” of the France international.
City have made no secret of their wish to sign the 18-year-old, although three weeks United’s five-game tour but remained there for the duration due to the impeccable organisation and facilities.
Rojo gave fans an insight into his recovery at United’s Carrington training complex, where he posted a video of his knee being assessed with the caption: ‘Listening to the club and working since early.’
Young and Shaw both participated in a six-aside training match at Old Trafford on Sunday after United beat West Ham.
Both players could be available for selection next month after Jose Mourinho ago they were close to admitting defeat, believing that Madrid had clinched the deal.
But with no move materialising, Fernandez has re-ignited the chase by claiming Mbappe’s future is still up in the air – and that he could even stay another season at Monaco.
That looked less likely at the weekend, after Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim left the player on the bench for their league win over Dijon, saying it was a “club decision”.
The £198m fee PSG have paid for Neymar may have muddied the waters – Madrid were said to be prepared to pay around £150m for Mbappe, but Neymar’s fee has moved the bar up a notch or two.
City are unlikely to compete with those kind of sums, but are still keeping a careful eye on developments.
Fernandez said: “Cabani-NeymarMbappe? With that you win the Champions League! Mbappe is very complicated. On suggested Young would return in October.
“No chance for the beginning of the Premier League,” Mourinho said last month. “Shaw is the first one to recover, Marcos will be the last one and Ashley in between.
“So I would say Luke – September, Young – October, Marcos – December, even January, but it’s good to have them. It’s good for them to be with us, to recover with the group and I have to say the group is really strong and really together and, for them, important to be with us than working in Manchester alone.”
United special: Pages 61-63 Sunday he did not play, but the PSG now with Neymar should look for outgoings like Jesse, Ben Arfa, Aurier, Matuidi, Krychowiak, they have to leave to give us options to sign. Mbappe had three teams in the head: Madrid, PSG and City. He must make a decision taking into account the World Cup.
“But it could be that he stays one more year in Monaco to follow his progression. It would not hurt to stay.”
City special: Pages 58-60